On a night Southwest presented its girls’ soccer team with its state championship rings, the Stallions’ football program looked like a title contender against a team that played in a state final last year.

DaMonta Winbush set the tone with a 70-yard touchdown run on the game’s first play from scrimmage, and Southwest never looked back in rolling to a 50-0 victory over winless Jones Senior on Friday night in a Coastal Plains 1-A Conference game that used a continuous clock in the second half.

The Stallions (6-1, 2-0 CPC), ranked fourth in The Associated Press state 1-A poll, compiled 435 yards total offense and had two backs go over the century mark in rushing while holding the Trojans (0-7, 0-2) to minus 61 yards rushing.

Not a bad night for Southwest against Jones Senior, which advanced to the state 1-A final last year.

“We didn’t know we were going to win because we didn’t know they (Trojans) were that decimated by injuries and other things,” Southwest coach Phil Padgett said. “The good thing is we feel last week we came out kind of flat, but tonight we came out ready to play football.”

Southwest senior left guard and defensive tackle Daniel Benton said there was a reason his team came prepared against the Trojans, who only lost 21-6 to the Stallions last year and 27-0 the previous season.

“This week was actually one of the best weeks of practice we’ve had,” Benton said. “The coaches said they were going to be a challenge, but it turns out some of their starting players were not able to play tonight. We were all pumped up and it showed in the game.”

As if trying to compete with Southwest was difficult enough, the Trojans played with just 14 players due to injuries, missing, among others, senior quarterback and linebacker Darvoris Batts

“Taking the injuries and the leadership that we are lacking, basically playing with two seniors and a team full of first-year guys and freshmen, the boys didn’t quit,” Jones Senior coach John Davis said. “My hat’s off to coach Padgett for coming in with a well-prepared team. They are an experienced program and one day we hope to get there.

“It’s back to the drawing board and hopefully our guys will get healthy and we will be able to finish the season strong.”

That goal for the Trojans starts next week when they host Dixon. Southwest, meanwhile, plays host East Carteret next week.

And even though happy with the lopsided win, Padgett knows his team still has plenty to improve upon, especially on its kickoff coverage. The Stallions gave up huge gains on Jones Senior kick returns.

“We know we need to work on it. We have been working on it, but I promise you this, we might not get better, but Monday we will work on it a bunch,” Padgett said. “We are not good at it and it’s a dang-on shame because we should be better. Oh we got plenty to work on.”

Southwest’s running game, however, was on top of its game Friday.

Winbush rushed for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns on a mere five carries while Isaiah Corbins added 107 yards and 2 touchdowns on just seven carries.

“The running backs ran hard and the line, we were blowing it up,” Benton said. “We got penetration and made big holes for the running backs to get through.”

Winbush certainly found himself running through a big hole on the first play from scrimmage. The junior took an inside handoff up the middle and darted through for his 70-yard touchdown run just 18 seconds in that gave the Stallions a 6-0 lead.

“That definitely got the whole team pumped up,” Benton said. “All the momentum shifted toward us and we just carried it on.”

On Jones Senior’s first possession, Southwest scored on a safety after a snap to the Trojans’ punter sailed into the end zone. After getting the ball back at the Jones Senior 40-yard line, the Stallions punched in another touchdown when Corbins scored on a 2-yard run.

Later in the second quarter, Shak Pershey threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to J’Veon Walker. Jones Senior muffed the ensuing kickoff, giving Southwest the ball at the Trojans’ 29. The Stallions took advantage when Winbush scored on a 3-yard run.

The Stallions carried a 43-0 lead into halftime.

“You just want to keep playing hard no matter what,” Padgett said.

The Stallions’ defense sure did that. Jones Senior didn’t record a first down until late in the third quarter and never threatened to score.

“Defensively, the coaches said to get after it and to punish them,” Benton said. “We didn’t want to let up at all.”

And while the outcome was never in doubt, Davis said Jones Senior continued to play hard, something his staff will take with it as it continues to improve.

“Jones Senior kids, they got heart and they got pride,” Davis said. “They are going to fight and we are going to continue to coach them and we will continue to go at it.”